Series intercooler

Abstract

A gas turbine engine having a series intercooler positioned between a first and a second compressor. The intercooler has a first fuel heating system which has a heated fuel outlet and the heated fuel outlet is coupled to a combuston region of the engine. The intercooler also has a second feedwater intercooler stage which heats feedwater and the heated feedwater is input into a turbine exhaust heat exchanger. At least one turbine is positioned downstream of the combustor region and the turbine exhaust heat exchanger is downstream of the turbine. The intercooler may also include the first fuel heating system having the heated fuel outlet coupled to the combustor region and a second intercooler stage having a water input port.

I claim: 
     
       1. A turbine engine comprising: a first compressor for producing a downstream flow;   an intercooler positioned downstream of said first compressor, said intercooler having a first fuel heating system having a heated fuel outlet, a second intercooler stage having a feedwater input port and a feedwater output port, said feedwater input port being coupled to a means for supplying water;   a second compressor positioned downstream of said intercooler;   a combustor region positioned downstream of said second compressor, said combustor region being coupled to said fuel outlet;   a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor region; and   a turbine exhaust heat exchanger downstream of said turbine, said heat exchanger being coupled to said feedwater output port.   
     
     
       2. The engine of claim 1 wherein said fuel heating system comprises a first intercooler stage having first stage input and output ports, said input port being coupled to a means for supplying water and said output port is coupled to a fuel heater, said fuel heater having a fuel inlet and said fuel outlet, said fuel inlet is coupled to a means for supplying fuel. 
     
     
       3. The engine of claim 2, wherein said first intercooler stage is adjacent said first compressor. 
     
     
       4. The engine of claim 1, wherein said turbine exhaust heat exchanger is a boiler and said boiler has a steam output which is coupled to said engine. 
     
     
       5. The engine of claim 1, further comprising a third intercooler stage. 
     
     
       6. The engine of claim 5, wherein said third intercooler stage is a variable effectivity heat exchanger. 
     
     
       7. The engine of claim 6, further comprising a third intercooler stage having third stage input and output ports which are coupled to a water cooler. 
     
     
       8. The engine of claim 6, wherein said third intercooler stage is coupled to a humidity sensor which controls the effectivity of said third intercooler stage. 
     
     
       9. The engine of claim 8, wherein said humidity sensor is positioned between the intercooler and the second compressor. 
     
     
       10. The engine of claim 8, wherein said third intercooler stage is coupled to at least one pump for controlling water flow and said pump is coupled to said humidity sensor. 
     
     
       11. The engine of claim 8, further comprising a third intercooler stage having third stage input and output ports which are coupled to a water cooler wherein said third intercooler stage is coupled to at least one valve for redirecting a portion of water to bypass said water cooler and said valve is coupled to said humidity sensor. 
     
     
       12. The engine of claim 5, wherein said third intercooler stage is an evaporative cooler. 
     
     
       13. The engine of claim 12, wherein said intercooler further comprises an evaporative cooler water stage having evaporative stage input and output ports wherein the evaporative stage output is coupled to said input port of said evaporative cooler. 
     
     
       14. The engine of claim 12, wherein an accelerator is positioned prior to said evaporative cooler. 
     
     
       15. The engine of claim 12, wherein said evaporative cooler is coupled to a humidity sensor for controlling the amount of water injected into said evaporative cooler. 
     
     
       16. A turbine engine comprising: a first compressor for producing a downstream flow;   an intercooler positioned downstream of said first compressor, said intercooler having a first fuel heating system having a heated fuel outlet, and also having a second intercooler stage having a water input port;   a second compressor positioned downstream of said intercooler;   a combustor region positioned downstream of said second compressor, said combustor region being coupled to said fuel outlet; and   a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor region.   
     
     
       17. The engine of claim 16 wherein said fuel heating system comprises a first intercooler stage having first stage input and output ports, said input port being coupled to a means for supplying water and said output port is coupled to a fuel heater, said fuel heater having a fuel inlet and said fuel outlet, said fuel inlet is coupled to a means for supplying fuel. 
     
     
       18. The engine of claim 17, wherein said first intercooler stage is adjacent said first compressor. 
     
     
       19. The engine of claim 16, wherein said second intercooler stage is a variable effectivity heat exchanger. 
     
     
       20. The engine of claim 19, wherein said second intercooler stage also has an output port and said input and output ports are coupled to a water cooler. 
     
     
       21. The engine of claim 19, wherein said second intercooler stage is coupled to a humidity sensor which controls the effectivity. 
     
     
       22. The engine of claim 21, wherein said humidity sensor is positioned between the intercooler and the second compressor. 
     
     
       23. The engine of claim 21, wherein said second intercooler stage is coupled to at least one pump for controlling water flow and said pump is coupled to said humidity sensor. 
     
     
       24. The engine of claim 21, wherein said second intercooler stage is coupled to at least one valve for redirecting a portion of water to bypass said water cooler and said valve is coupled to said humidity sensor. 
     
     
       25. The engine of claim 16, wherein said second intercooler stage is an evaporative cooler. 
     
     
       26. The engine of claim 25, wherein said intercooler further comprises an evaporative cooler water stage having evaporative stage input and output ports wherein the evaporative stage output is coupled to said input port of said evaporative cooler. 
     
     
       27. The engine of claim 25, wherein an accelerator is positioned prior to said evaporative cooler. 
     
     
       28. The engine of claim 25, wherein said evaporative cooler is coupled to a humidity sensor for controlling the amount of water injected into said evaporative cooler. 
     
     
       29. The engine of claim 16, wherein said intercooler further comprises a feedwater intercooler third stage having feedwater input and output ports and said feedwater output port is coupled to a turbine exhaust heat exchanger.